# vanguard

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈvænˌɡɑɹd/ · frequency rank #14,448

## Definitions
1. The leading units at the front of an army or fleet.
2. The person(s) at the forefront of any group or movement.

## Etymology
Earlier forms included vandgard and (a)vantgard with or without aphetism, derived from Old French avan(t)garde (“before guard”). Doublet of avant-garde and vaward.

## Common misspellings (12)
`avnguard`, `vagnuard`, `vangaurd`, `vangguard`, `vanguadr`, `vanguardd`, `vanguarrd`, `vangurad`, `vannguard`, `vanugard`, `vnaguard`, `vvanguard`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/vanguard